1Y0-A06 - Exam Today
stupidboy
Senior StupidboyMember Posts: 470
I took and passed the Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0 exam today. I was in and out of the exam in 35 minutes, leaving with a score of 96% 
I used the following resources to prepare
I used the following resources to prepare
- CPV-200P-1W Implementing Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0 (Partner Offering)
- Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0 Administrators Guide
- Citrix Provisioning Server Installation and Configuration Guide
- Citrixxperience Study Guide and exam simulator
Comments
I'm actually planning on taking the A06 soon. I use PVS with an XenDesktop deployment. Did you read all of the admin and install guides? Would you recommend reading them both in order to pass, or is one more important for the exam?
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
Thanks man, I am looking at doing XenDesktop next. I have booked up a trip to Citrix UK on May 19th for a XenDesktop CCA workshop so I have the next 7-8 weeks to study the on-line course and labs.
I skimmed the installation guide and as I had access to the on-line course was able to install a number of times in the labs. The admin guide, I did read most of, especially the last section on the Stream Console as it seems to be missing from the on-line course.
I would say read the admin guide and defiantly get your copy of the Citrixxpereince study guide (currently Jeff is giving them away FREE so no reason not to
This summer I'll be upgrading a XenDesktop deployment to version 4 (currently on 3) and doing some XenApp, so I'll get a chance to study for the A17 and A05, and there's a chance I can get some training so I'll push for the course required for the CCAA and take the A08 exam.
OK, now I'm getting way ahead of myself. I gotta get moving on A06!!!
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
Don't forget to pick up your FREE Citrixxperience A09 Study Guide
First CCA? Odd entry point into the world of Citrix, most come in through Presentation Server/XenApp.
I can't go to Synergy
I love the idea that you can take a CCA for free while you are there and I think its great you are going to take it up.
I did A09 (XenServer 5.0) in November (I did XenServer 4.1 the year before) and was impressed with how it has grown but keeping the simplicity. The XenServer exam is easy enough (I think my score was between 85-90%) but I am sure that you don't NEED to look at Essentials, I don't see it mentioned in the Citrix Prep Guide. I would recommended at look at the Citrixxperience study guide, which is currently FREE for A09 as well as this always helps hammer it home.
I have been lucky enough to get the XenDesktop 3/4 e-learning (company paid and as it was the Partner course was cheaper
Good luck on the A06 and all the others planned. It nice to see someone else on the Citrix certification route, its a quiet road
Yeah definitely. The thing is I have very little PS/XA experience, but I've worked a lot with XS/PVS/XD as part of a building and managing a XenDesktop deployment, so I wanted to get the familiar stuff out of the way.
I hear ya. It's my first Synergy so I'm excited, the free exam is just icing on the cake.
Thanks for the tips, I'll take a look at the guide. I hadn't looked into it in detail yet so I was mostly just assuming Essentials would be covered. If it's not I'm probably OK to just take the exam now.
I was planning on doing the A14, but since they announced that it was being discontinued, I hadn't really considered still taking it. Do you think it's worth doing both A14 and A17? I've used XD3 extensively so I think I could pass, I'm just worried about the XenApp coverage on the exam (though it seems app delivery is only weighted 8% on it).
Thanks!!
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
I always regretted not attempting an NT 4 MCSE and waiting until the Window 2000 track was launched before getting started
So as both 1Y0-A14 and 1Y0-A17 are current, I will at least attempt 1Y0-A14 then after a few more weeks (when over at Citrix UK) will attempt A17. It makes sense in my mind and as my company is picking up the exam fees there is even less reason no to
I did that very thing this week and managed a 77% beating the required 62%
Don't forget 1Y0-A14 gets discontinued at the end of the month so if you are studying get that exam booked sharpish
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
profile: linkedin.com/in/astorrs
I was actually studying the admin and install guides for PVS 5.1, whereas the exam is for 5.0! I'm pretty sure some of the four questions I missed were because of this. The Citrixxperience guide did help with some of the differences, though.
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
Congratulations.
Up for a quick A14 before the end of the month?
There is a big problem right there PVS 51 is full of bugs, you need at least SP2
5.1 SP1 with all patches has been OK for the XD3 deployment I'm working with. I'll be upgrading it to XD4 in the coming months so I'll upgrade to the latest PVS at that time.
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
Have you read the exam prep guide? The resources used to create the exam include just about every admin guide ever written
You have a XD3 environment that you are working with?
I would say the following are good things to cover.
- Have an understanding of what Provisioning Server is and how it streams vDisks
- Look at how Provisioning Server integrates with XenDesktop and where possible run through provisioning some desktops via the XenDesktop Set-up Wizard
- Understand where Active Directory fits in and understand why it is used
- Understand more about Provisioning Server
- Be very comfortable with the XenDesktop architecture and all the components involved
- Be comfortable with the communication flow and the ports and protocols used, if you’ve been working through the courseware those 15 steps might just save you
- Read the Citrixxperience and be sure there is noting that takes you by surprise (I know it is for version 2.0 but there is some very useful information in a highly condensed format) I always find it helps make things clear
Good luck.MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
Good luck with A14, I found it a little bit tricky but I really do not have a great deal of hands on out side my lab. I am sure with all that experience you will do well.
Anyway, not having XenApp experience brought down my score, but I did well enough on the other sections and passed with an 88%.
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
All silliness aside, congrats to both of you on knocking both exams off in such a short period of time
profile: linkedin.com/in/astorrs
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
Congratulations, nice work, I said you would do fine
Oh man, whipped is an under statement
Thanks, I've been looking at XD on and off since 2.0 but this is the first time I have really "got it", the PVS study and PVS project I am working on helped bring it all together.
Whats on your plan dude, not seen any Citrix from you for a while
Are you using the admin guide for this one?
Are you working with XenServer 5.0 in your XD environment?
I suggest getting the FREE study guide from Citrixxperience maybe consider purchasing the practise test to aid your study (and support Jeff)
Hey just remembered that PvS + XenServer = Citrix Certified Administrator for Citrix XenServer 5 Platinum Edition that will look nice with the Citrix Certified Administrator for Citrix XenDesktop 3 Platinum Edition that you already have
Good luck.
I'll think about it. It's kind of a tough sell since I'm paying for all of this out of pocket, and $150 per exam is already a lot.
That's the plan!!
EDIT: Actually I just checked and it seems the CCA for XD 3 Platinum requires three exams, A14, plus two of 740, A05, A06, A09, or A13. So if I pass A09 I'll get the CCA for XD 3 Platinum and XS 5 Platinum.
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
To start the day it took me 3 hours to get there (lucky I left plenty of time this morning to get stuck in traffic). The day seemed to start off OK but it soon came clear that we were not going to go into the levels of detail (in fact any real detail would have been something) I would have liked. Around 5 or so slides in I realised that I had already seen the presentation as I had downloaded it a few weeks back. To add to the woes, I am sure the guy talking about XD, PVS and Profile Manager did not have the greatest knowledge on the subject and was clearly glazing over some aspects with less than useful information.
All of this topped with me having zero study time in the last 4 weeks due to working on a customer site, did not full me with confidence going into the exam. In fact I thought what the hey just give it a go and see.
It took several attempts to get the exam delivered to one of the test stations and the whole thing was quite slow. I worked through the exam and was horrified with almost every question as there were several that made little to no sense at all and most with terrible English that left me guessing which answer they really wanted. All this said I did manage to get 71% (I think) which beats the required 59% pass mark. I finished up expecting to receive a print out so I could see which areas were weakest only to be told that they are unable to print any score reports (hence why I think that's what it said).
I waited for the other guy that decided to take a punt to see how he got on. It turned out that two others decided they would set up next door to do some last minute "study"! Their idea of study was reading through some sort of brain **** / **** sheet and then expecting me to fill in the questions that did not have answers (yeah like F**K! I was going to help). Totally gob smacked that they were using this kind of material inside Citrix outside the test room I just did not know what to say so just looked puzzled and played dumb. After the question "What is the Desktop Deliver Console" from one of them, I was even more shocked in the total luck of understanding of the product, coupled with the sheer audacity of the situation. I engaged with a "surly that can't be right" only to be told that it was perfectly acceptable as though this was the normal way every one does it and that I was wrong. I saw that the guy I was waiting for had finished and saw this as my exit from the situation. We both chatted with the education lady at Citrix about the questioning and were both in agreement about the terrible English and just how badly worded the whole thing was. She was going to take up the comments that we both made throughout the exam as well as those comments that we made at the end. I hope for everyone else's sake it does get addressed soon.
I left Citrix and the two cheaters and made my way home (wondering if they would take the exam and accept the 12 question agreement). Now I am not sure what to do and or who I should contact to make them aware, I don't think I can let this go as it has really annoyed me the more I think about it. Any suggestions?
I know the Manager of Exam Development at Citrix, send me a PM and I'll put you in touch with her.
profile: linkedin.com/in/astorrs
MCSA 2003, LFCS, LFCE (expired), VCP6-DCV
Disgusting and totally shocking, I was actually stunned and unable to deal with the situation in my usual way.
Thanks astorrs, I got in touch with Education in the UK. She was in fact the lady that proctored the exam yesterday too so I think this was a good stating place.
It was certainly a day to chalk up on the old experience board if nothing else
Thanks, I'm glad of the pass, I have been working so hard over the last 4 weeks that study has been physically impossible (unless I gave up sleep)